Comeback run for Troy Turkey Trot?

City officials consider turning over Thanksgiving race to former manager

Published 12:00 am, Sunday, September 2, 2012

TROY — The city plans to have USA Track and Field Adirondack resume managing the Troy Turkey Trot this Thanksgiving instead of relying on city employees to oversee the renowned race.

The proposed change will return the Turkey Trot to its previous operator of two years ago after the city assumed control of registering an anticipated 7,000 runners and overseeing race day on Thanksgiving morning.

"This is Troy's signature event. We need a person familiar with it to run it and improve participation every year," Council President Lynn Kopka, a Democrat, said Saturday.

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George Regan of USA Track and Field Adirondack was in charge of the trot for 13 years. The track organization would be back in charge for the 65th Troy Turkey Trot on Nov. 22.

Republican Councilman Mark McGrath questioned why the City Council has not discussed the change previously at the Parks and Recreation Committee; the financial impact on the city's 2012 budget; and why the information about the contract was released Friday at the start of the long Labor Day weekend.

"I'm not averse to George Regan. There's been no discussion," said McGrath, who represents the 2nd Council District.

A special Finance Committee meeting has been called for 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 6 at Christ Church United Methodist to consider the Turkey Trot contract and the payment to the city of back taxes and fees for 11 Florence Place. If both are approved, they will go to the 7 p.m. council meeting for final adoption.

Kopka said there's plenty of time for McGrath to discuss the proposed contract with other council members before the committee meeting. She said the meeting also is a forum for discussion. She said it took time to gather the materials for the meeting in preparation for placing it on the Sept. 6 City Council agenda.

Under the proposed contract, the track and field group will receive $25,500 to manage the Turkey Trot before and on race day, plus 30 percent of the sponsorship revenues.

The Turkey Trot is projected to generate about $145,000 in entry fees, according to the city's 2012 budget. The city budget also projects expenses of $40,000 for materials and supplies and $5,500 in consulting fees.

McGrath said the fees paid for race management would be revenues the city would lose.

Kopka said it's important to have the race properly managed by professionals so it comes off in the best possible fashion for the city to promote itself to draw new residents and businesses.

"It's extremely important to the city," Kopka said. "We can't measure its significance in the positive publicity the city receives."